Council to participate in Earth Hour

Published:14:47Wednesday 20 March 2013

At 8.30 p.m., on Saturday, March 23 the people of Angus will join millions across the globe in switching off their lights for 60 minutes in a graphic demonstration of support for people and wildlife threatened by climate change.

To support Earth Hour, Angus Council will turn off floodlights at County Buildings, Angus House, Orchardbank and Balmashanner war memorial as well as asking staff to switch off lights and appliances at home at 8.30 p.m., for an hour. The county’s schools will also take part in the World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour campaign which highlights ways to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Angus Council was recently awarded Super Local Authority status by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) for its efforts in supporting and promoting Earth Hour 2013 by switching off lights and encouraging residents to turn off energy at home.

Last year millions of people in 152 countries worldwide took part in WWF’s Earth Hour. Some of world’s most recognisable landmarks went dark including the Houses of Parliament and Sydney Opera House. In Scotland hundreds of schools, businesses, organisations and community groups joined in the big switch off.

Councillor Iain Gaul, leader of Angus Council said: “I encourage everyone to take part in the hour-long switch-off on Saturday as part of the global efforts to combat climate change. We can all play a useful part.”

Lang Banks, Director of WWF Scotland said: “It is great news Angus Council has given its backing once again to WWF’s Earth Hour 2013. Already it’s looking to be another great year with communities up and down the country joining together with others from around the world in a dramatic hour of action on climate change.”